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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on July 20, 2010, at 17:41:59
I think we need to stop complaining about blocks because blocks have evolved over time and they are much less harsh now. In the past, blocks doubled no matter what. Your first block was 1 week, then if you offend again, it was 2 weeks, then 4 then 8, then 16 and so on until it hits the maximum of 52 weeks.
It didn't matter how long you were "good" for, if you had been blocked for 2 weeks before then were good for 2 years, your next block would still be 4 weeks.
Now there is an equation for calculating the blocks that takes into consideration how long you've been block free. If you experiment with plugging numbers into the formula you will see that it rewards people for being block free for long periods of time. The longer you are "good" the shorter your block will be when you do get blocked.
Also Dr. Bob didn't used to give people the opportunity to apologize to get out of blocks. Now he allows apologies. No one who wants to follow the rules will ever need to be blocked again. You can apologize, learn from your mistake and just get a warning.
I've been blocked several times in the past and it hurt so much I thought I was going to die. Babble was the only place I could talk to people and socialize. It was my only means of support, other than pdoc. I see why I was uncivil and I learned to be civil and now I've been block free for a long time.
Even though I was hurt by the blocks, they are good for the community and they were also good for me. I learned to take suicide and life much more seriously. The blocks made me see that certain ways of interacting and thinking will no lead to good and teaches you a better way to think and communicate.
I'm really glad there are civility rules here. I hope others can see the good in them too.
Posted by Justherself54 on July 21, 2010, at 13:17:49
In reply to Blocks used to be much more harsh, posted by Deneb on July 20, 2010, at 17:41:59
I have no problem with the civility rules or blocks. However, the length of some blocks are, IMO, absurd.
Many posters feel the same way, except that Dr. Bob won't bend an inch regarding his "formula". Personally, I think one month should be the longest anyone should be blocked.
Posted by Toph on July 21, 2010, at 15:07:37
In reply to Re: Blocks used to be much more harsh, posted by Justherself54 on July 21, 2010, at 13:17:49
>
> Personally, I think one month should be the longest anyone should be blocked.I agree, and if blocks are intended to help a poster learn to be more civil then it is the frequency of discipline not the length that better shapes the behavior. A monthly correction would be more instructive than a yearly one.
Posted by Deneb on July 21, 2010, at 15:22:20
In reply to Re: Blocks » Justherself54, posted by Toph on July 21, 2010, at 15:07:37
Actually I think I agree with that Toph. I think some blocks are too long right now. A year is a long time!
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 22, 2010, at 18:56:14
In reply to Re: Blocks » Justherself54, posted by Toph on July 21, 2010, at 15:07:37
> if blocks are intended to help a poster learn to be more civil then it is the frequency of discipline not the length that better shapes the behavior.
I think that's right, but that's only partly the intent.
Bob
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 1, 2010, at 11:17:06
In reply to Blocks used to be much more harsh, posted by Deneb on July 20, 2010, at 17:41:59
>I'm really glad there are civility rules here. I hope others can see the good in them too.
Yeah, we do *need* civility rules and moderation. Forums which are not moderated are normally littered with abusive posts.
I don't think Dr. Bob always gets it right, but he's only human :)
Posted by sigismund on August 12, 2010, at 20:18:05
In reply to Re: Blocks, posted by Dr. Bob on July 22, 2010, at 18:56:14
>I think that's right, but that's only partly the intent.
I'm not at liberty to jump to conclusions as to Bob's intent, so I'll just have to say I agree.
Posted by Maxime on September 19, 2010, at 0:38:55
In reply to Blocks used to be much more harsh, posted by Deneb on July 20, 2010, at 17:41:59
There was one block last week for 44 weeks! You don't find that harsh????
This is the end of the thread.
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